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If you are looking to warm
your floors with a radiant heat system, and have typed
“radiant heat system” into a search engine, you might
find yourself scratching your head at this point.
There are dozens of products available to purchase, and
there are even more companies telling you that their
product is the best.
So which product is the
best? Should you install a hydronic heating system
that pumps hot water through your floors, an electric
cable heating system, or a low voltage screen system?
The answer lies in the type of project you are doing.
Not every system is ideal for every project, but there is
an ideal system for every project.
Hydronic Heating Systems
Hydronic floor heating is
the oldest and most popular type of radiant floor heating.
These systems are comprised of a boiler or hot water
heater, pumps, manifolds, pex tubing, thermostat, and
either gypcrete (a concrete-like material) or wood panels.
Hydronic heating is the most complex of all radiant heat
systems. These systems require trained professionals
to design and perform the installation. Your best
economies of scale are achieved for hydronic systems in
large areas or entire homes because of their expensive
components and operational costs.
Hydronic systems can be
installed under any type of flooring. Most hydronic
systems require hot water tubing to be installed in a 2 to
4 inch bed of light concrete and are best installed during
the initial construction because of its weight load
demands and adjustments to floor height. Recent low-mass
products have been developed to avoid these challenges by
fitting the tubing into pre-cut wood panels making
hydronic systems more convenient and possible for most
major remodeling projects.
If you want to heat smaller
areas like a bathroom or kitchen, a hydronic floor heating
system may not be the best value for your project.
The complexity and cost of installing the system, along
with the long-term maintenance and up-keep required, is
not worth the small amount you will save in operational
costs.
Electric Cable Heating
Electric cable heating
systems, often called line or high voltage systems, are
gaining popularity and are ideal for heating smaller
areas (10-300 square feet) like bathrooms, kitchens, and
sun rooms. These systems are comprised of a
thermostat and a heating cable. On some systems, the
cable will be shipped to you as a large spool of cable.
These systems are often times less expensive, and give you
the ability to space the cable how you want and customize
a layout that will heat every square inch of your floor.
Other systems have the cable attached to a plastic mesh or
tape to create a mat to maintain its proper spacing.
Every available cable
system is equally effective, and so when determining which
system to purchase, you should look at the warranty of the
product, along with the ease of installation. Some
cables must be embedded in a separate layer of concrete or
mortar, whereas other systems can simply be installed in
the thin set. Most cable systems can only be installed
under tile. However, on others, if the cable is embedded
in mortar or concrete, any flooring can be installed on
top of the concrete. When heating smaller areas, it
is nearly impossible to beat the simplicity and price of
an electric cable heating system.
Low-Voltage Screen
Finally, there are
low-voltage radiant heat systems. These systems are
ideal for mid-size to larger areas (300-3000 square feet)
and are comprised of a control box, transformer, heating
screen or cable, and thermostat. The main advantage
to a low-voltage screen (Zmesh) system is the extremely
low profile of the heating element. Zmesh is a 12
inch wide bronze-wired mesh that resembles screen door
material. This mesh is practically paper thin and
does not buildup floors during the installation.
Zmesh can be installed directly under any type of flooring
including hardwood, tile, and carpet. Whereas most
cable systems must be installed on top of the concrete
board when installing tile, Zmesh can be installed
underneath it. These systems are easy to install and
don’t require maintenance like a hydronic system.
Radiant heat technology has
made significant advances over the years and is an
excellent way to supplement your existing heating system
or be your sole source of heat. One good way to be
assured that you’re being sold the best system for your
project is to buy from a company that offers all of the
available types of radiant heat.
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About
The Author
Warmzone,
Inc. is one company who carries various
types of radiant systems and is dedicated
to specifying the product that makes the
most sense for each individual job.
Without a bias towards one system they
have become a consumer advocate in the
radiant industry and will save you time
and money. Warmzone has already done
the research and has selected to only work
with the best products on the market.
Because they are a large nation-wide
wholesaler, they can offer you the best
pricing by selling to you direct.
You can receive a free estimate for your
project by submitting a request at www.warmzone.com
or calling them at 1-888-488-WARM. |
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